Namibia recorded more than 1.25 million tourist arrivals in 2024, up 45.5 percent from the previous year, as the sector continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an official has said.
WINDHOEK, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Namibia recorded more than 1.25 million tourist arrivals in 2024, reflecting a 45.5 percent increase from the previous year as the sector continues to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, an official has said.
Speaking at the launch of the Tourist Statistical Report 2024 in Windhoek on Wednesday, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Indileni Daniel said arrivals reached 1,257,093, representing 79 percent of pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019.
She said the data highlights the resilience of the tourism sector and its capacity to recover from external shocks.
South Africa remained the largest source market, accounting for 38.5 percent of all arrivals, while other key African markets included Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, she said.
According to the report, among overseas markets, Germany continued to lead, followed by the United States, Britain, France and the Netherlands, while the Asian market accounted for 1.7 percent of total tourist arrivals in 2024, up from 0.6 percent in 2021.
Holiday and leisure travel accounted for 47.5 percent of all visits, while 15.8 percent of tourists travelled to Namibia for business, she said.
Daniel said the ministry is finalizing the National Tourism Spatial Development Master Plan, a framework to guide sustainable and inclusive tourism development to enhance Namibia's global competitiveness.
She said that the country will continue expanding digital and online marketing efforts and promoting domestic tourism to support year-round travel.
Namibia's tourism sector is one of the country's key economic pillars, known for its wildlife, desert landscapes and conservation-based tourism model. ■
